Habits are actions that we perform
unconsciously, repeating them daily, often without recognizing or considering
their positive or negative consequences. There are good habits, such as
maintaining your health through a balanced diet, exercising, listening to
Dharma talks to keep your mind peaceful, and staying away from negative
influences. However, there are also bad
habits, such as drinking alcohol, gambling, smoking, and being lazy—these
habits not only harm your mental health but also negatively affect your
relationships. Therefore, it’s crucial that we clearly identify which habits to
maintain and which bad habits to eliminate in order to become the best version
of ourselves.
Habits are often formed from our living
environment and are significantly influenced by those around us. As the saying
goes, "You become like those you spend time with," or "You are
shaped by your surroundings," meaning that our habits are often a reflection
of the environment and the people we interact with.
Changing a habit is a significant challenge
that requires a great deal of effort and perseverance. For example, if you want
to improve your health, the first thing you need to do is reevaluate your diet.
Are you consuming unhealthy foods? Are
you staying up late instead of getting proper sleep to ensure a good night's
rest? These behaviors need to be adjusted.
Many people believe that simply knowing
many profound and positive principles will change their lives. But in reality, no matter how many principles
you’ve heard—from the teachings of elders or the well-meaning advice of those
around you—your life won’t change unless you put those principles into
practice. Principles alone cannot change your life; only you can apply them in
your daily habits.
There are countless ways to live, such as
listening to meditation teachers guide you in spiritual practice and
meditation, but if you don't practice these teachings, they are like
"water off a duck’s back."
Thus, principles alone are not enough to
change a person’s destiny; they are not a universal cure for every problem. If you want to change your fate, you must
practice the principles you believe to be correct to improve yourself.
Principles are abstract and universal, but
life isn’t like that. Life is
ever-changing, and each person’s life is unique. Each of us is an independent individual, not
someone who blindly follows the guidance of others. When you apply someone
else's principles to your own life, they may not necessarily work. Hearing a
principle a thousand times is not as effective as taking one small step to turn
that principle into a habit.
Good habits are a powerful and enduring
force that can control your life. No one is born with extraordinary abilities;
success comes from the experiences gained through daily habits.
As someone once said, “Sow a thought, reap
an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a
character, reap a destiny.” Habits are the foundation of destiny; people live
by their habits. Research shows that repeating an action for 21 days forms a
habit, and repeating it for 90 days creates a stable habit.
Repeating an action for 21 days will turn
it into a familiar habit, and repeating a thought for 21 days will turn it into
a habitual thought. Once a habit is formed, it influences your subconscious,
and your behavior changes without you even realizing it. Therefore, just acting
once isn’t enough; you need to repeat the action many times to form a habit
that leads to positive outcomes.
Change your bad habits, form good ones,
keep the principles in your heart, and express them through your actions. When
you have many good habits, living a good life will no longer be just a distant
dream.
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